West Wiltshire residents feel they have been given misleading information about council tax increases. Bills have been sent to householders from West Wiltshire District Council containing a breakdown of the rises imposed by each authority.

But changes to the way the information is presented mean rises appear lower than they actually are.

One Warminster resident, who asked not to be named, said: "It makes a nonsense of the actual increases.

"It is extraordinary that anyone would try to spin the figures over such a volatile issue as council tax. So much for open government."

The confusion has arisen over the way central government has directed local authorities to present information on the bills.

In the past, the Fire Authority's precept has been included within Wiltshire County Council's figure but this year it is separate.

This year's bills show the Fire Authority having no percentage rise on its precept, when in fact the increase is 15.94 per cent, accounting for the largest part of the overall rise.

The county council is shown as increasing its requirement by 0.8 per cent rather than the actual figure of 5.98 per cent, which adds £5.27 per year to the average band D household's bill.

An explanation of the figures is included in small print at the bottom of the letter and a booklet explaining how the amounts have been calculated accompanies the bills.

A statement issued by the district council this week said they have no choice in law but to present the figures in this way.

Council leader Tony Phillips said: "Although the booklet makes it very clear how the money is split between the various authorities, how this is explained on the bill is set down by law and this is causing some confusion.

"I would therefore urge everyone to read the information booklet that comes with it, as this sets out what each authority will be spending in the next year."

Pensioners who have launched campaigns against the tax increases, which many struggle to pay out of state pensions, have been further angered by the way these figures have been presented.

Ron Young from Warminster, who has organised a pensioners protest movement against the tax rises, plans to get together a petition, which he hopes to take to Downing Street.

He said: "They are manipulating figures all the time to make it look good for themselves."

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